by Papa K on September 29, 2011
Last week Chris and I went to Maile’s school for the first parent night. We officially met all the teachers and learned about what Maile is learning and the overall approach and goals for the year. It was really nicely done and at the end, we all went in to the classrooms and did a project for Maile.
Waiting for us in the classroom was an envelope that Maile had painted herself. Inside was a note that Maile had “written” with help from a teacher earlier in the day. Maile’s note said:
“Dear Mommy & Daddy,
I enjoy coming to school, playing with my friends and discovering new things to do every day. Right now, my favorite area is the art area, where I enjoy drawing pictures with crayons and splashing watercolors on paper.
The teachers told me you are comint to visit my classroom and can help me with my project. I would like to ask you to draw me a picture of a big house. Mommy & Daddy are in the room, and Mommy’s cubby is in the house. Thank you!
Love,
Maile
P.S. Please place Maile’s favorite things in the cubby as a surprise.”
Every family had a different, personalized note from their child. Some parents had to build something out of clay, one built the Golden Gate Bridge out of blocks! Luckily, I had Mommy with me so she set to work and I offered encouragement (I was also responsible for painting the roof and writing a letter back to Maile.)
Mommy showing off our picture and letter we wrote back to Maile Girl
Maile's dream house ... complete with blue bunny in the cubby.
I would have loved to have seen the faces on all the kids when they arrived the next day and saw all the projects we made them. The teachers said they were incredibly excited and after enjoying their own, they walked around the room to see everyone else’s. Very cool!
(Dad note: Just a quick note to wish all of our Jewish family and friends a very Happy New Year! We hope the holiday is treating you well.)
by Papa K on September 28, 2011
At this rate we're just going to get rid of Maile's toys and pick up a bunch of empty boxes...
Even though Grandma Gail makes her Halloween costume every year, Maile still likes to explore different options. Tonight, Mommy was breaking down some boxes and Maile grabbed one and made a costume out of it. We’re calling it naked girl in a box. I think Grandma Gail has her work cut out for her to top this one!
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on September 27, 2011
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen Hannah. Last week I said to Mommy – “Hannah?” and Mommy took that to mean that she should call Hannah’s mommy and make plans for us to get together. My mommy is smart like that. So on Sunday morning, we packed up and headed to Hannah’s house – it was a little farther than I remembered (and much bigger!) … but it was the same old Hannah!
(Dad note: Regular readers might recall that Hannah and her family moved out of the city a couple weeks ago. They live about 40 minutes away now.)
I didn't remember this part of Hannah's place, but she has this great deck out back of her house and TWO awesome bikes - it was like she was knew I was coming!
Cool bike. Yours too.
We should switch.
See we still share!
Great times with Hannah – I can’t wait to see her again soon!
Still two peas in a pod, just a little further apart now!
by Papa K on September 25, 2011
I’ve been traveling this weekend and I don’t get home until tomorrow morning. As always, Christine is great about sending me videos and messages from Maile Girl while I’m away. Tonight I received an email titled “Your Daughter” and the video below attached…
When I asked Christine, what the back story was for the video, she wrote:
“This is after she said she wasn’t sleepy and I said she could read in her room by herself if she wasn’t sleepy. Then she came out and said it was too dark. Then she came out and said she needed books. Then she came out and asked me why I was folding her laundry. Then she came out…
So this is probably the last time she came out before I got her down. I had just finished the laundry and was looking at e-mail on my phone. I noticed that she was goofing and I switched it to camera and tried not to break. You’ll notice it’s silent and not shaking. That was hard.”
Needless to say both my girls crack me up! (And I can’t wait to get home…)
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on September 21, 2011
Not quite...
by Papa K on September 20, 2011
After school last week Mommy and Maile did some finger painting (I heard feet painting was involved as well). Chris caught some great Maile Girl expressions thoughout that I loved…
by Papa K on September 19, 2011
This one is for Papa Mike. On Sunday, we went to check out Sunday Streets over in North Beach. It wasn’t very busy when we went, but the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition was setup with balance bikes. Balance bikes are this new concept where they teach little kids to “balance” on bikes without pedals or training wheels. Apparently, it is better for kids to learn how to balance first and then add in the pedaling. (Makes sense to me, more details here.)
Mommy got Maile started by showing her how things worked ...
... then Maile and Daddy raced down the rest of the course!
Eat your heart out, Papa Mike!
by Papa K on September 18, 2011
On Saturday, we headed down to Marina Green for the Family Day Kite Festival. It was a blast, I actually forgot how much fun kites are. They had some incredible kites that you could watch, but the best part was that the YMCA setup a booth where you could make your own kite. I had pretty low expectations that the kite we made would fly, but it really did!
Mommy, Daddy - DUCK! There are huge animals in the sky that are going to fall on us...
This is the kite that Mommy and Maile made...
... and here is Daddy and Maile flying it!
Video of Maile’s first solo kite flight…
Kites. Are. Awesome.
Bye bye kites, we'll see you soon...
(Click here for the video.)
Just going to toss this out there Mommy, this doesn't seem like such a great idea...
Maile Girl here. I learned something new about my mommy and daddy this weekend in Vermont – they can fly! Kind of like an airplane. Crazy, right? All I know is that my mommy put on a helmet, walked up a ladder and then away she went! See for yourself…
Dad note: I like the look on her face at the end – kind of says “wait, she’s coming back, right?”
(Click here for the video.)
